'Immigrant' children a needy lot

A new report by the advocacy organization Voices for Utah Children provides fascinating and troubling information about an estimated 130,000 immigrant children who live in the Beehive State.

Only 27,000 are foreign born, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey. (The Census Bureau defines children in immigrant families as those under 18 who are foreign born or have at least one foreign-born parent.) That means the vast majority of immigrant children in Utah were born in the United States and are citizens.

Even so, these children are more likely to live in poverty and less likely to have health coverage. An independent survey conducted as part of the report revealed that only 29 percent of the U.S.-born children in immigrant families were in either the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) or Medicaid.

The report, "A Picture of Immigrant Children in Utah," reveals fascinating demographic information about a population that is the subject of many assumptions. For instance, children in immigrant families are more likely to live in a two-parent household than native-born families. Family sizes are slightly smaller. Children in immigrant families are less likely to reside in a mother-only household. A small, related survey found that 59 percent of the respondents hail from Mexico, 20 percent were from Polynesian countries and 21 percent were from other Latin American countries.

Poverty is pervasive among children born outside the United States and residing in Utah or U.S.-born children who live in immigrant households.

English fluency is a key factor. People who cannot speak English fluently tend to avoid contact with a broader community, fearing hassles from governmental agencies. This can disadvantage their children because parents are reluctant to advocate on their behalf in schools, report crimes or interact with private businesses such as banks or insurance companies. Without some mastery of English, parents in immigrant households cannot get better-paying jobs.

The report, which includes a qualitative analysis of immigration raids on children and families, found lingering negative effects from immigration raids conducted at Miller Blue Ribbon meatpacking plant in Hyrum in 2006 and Universal Industrial Sales in Lindon in 2008. Roughly two-thirds of those who answered the Utah survey said they are concerned that immigration officials will raid their place of work at any time.

Overall, the findings of this report suggest that much more needs to be done to ensure that immigrant children receive needed services, that they and their families feel free to contact police, conduct business or seek needed health care. Seemingly, nonprofit organizations, schools and churches could do far more to help this population master English. That alone would enable immigrant families to qualify for jobs that would lead to greater economic prosperity, stability for children and access to services for which they qualify.